Same-sex parents to receive paid leave

Same-sex parents will be eligible for the Labor Government’s paid parental leave scheme provisions, which will allow primary carers up to eighteen weeks of leave after the birth of a child.

From 2011, primary carers who earn less than $150,000 a year will be eligible for welfare payments of $543.78 a week.

Alhough the Government did not explicitly mention same-sex families when releasing the landmark policy, a spokeswoman for the Minister for Families, Jenny Macklin, said same-sex parents would be included.

Yes, they will be eligible for the same payments under the scheme because we have same-sex legislation, she said.

Based on findings from the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into paid parental leave, the scheme stopped short of providing all the recommendations made.

The partners of primary care givers will not be eligible for any form of government payment and businesses will not be required to pay superannuation on parental leave entitlements.

At last Monday’s council meeting, the City of Sydney Council supported an 18-week scheme and promised to provide equal treatment for its employees in same-sex relationships.

I have asked that consideration be given to establishing parental leave for supporting parents of newborn and adopted children, Cr Chris Harris said, adding our policy will not discriminate between heterosexual couples and same-sex couples of either gender.

Cr Marcelle Hoff said the City’s policy would need to be re-designed to facilitate a flexible understanding of modern parenting needs.

She asked the council’s CEO to report on measures that could extend parental leave to include adoptive, biological and non-biological co-parents.